Shillong, Feb 28: Making a major move to empower the youth of the state with necessary skills to transition them from school to work by providing with a range of specialized skills including Artificial Intelligence, the Meghalaya government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the 1 Million for 1 Billion Foundation (1M1B) to set up India’s second and the state’s very first Green Skills Academy for Youth in Shillong.
The Green Skills Academy is developed for college students aged over 18 years and the vision of the project is to enable them to achieve full potential by ensuring their successful transition with holistic support for health and well-being, thereby ensuring the long term sustainable development of the state. It is designed to equip the future workforce with the skill set, mindset and tools set needed in a rapidly evolving green economy.
The target is to engage 1 lakh youth on green skills from the state in the next five years and the top 10 selected students would be invited to present their work at the 1M1B summit at the United Nations in New York.
On February 28th, the Meghalaya Multisectoral Project for Adolescent Wellbeing Empowerment and Resilience (MPOWER) – Planning, Investment, Promotion and Sustainable Development Department, the Department of Education, Information Technology & Communication (IT&C) Department, Meghalaya State Skills Development Society, Government of Meghalaya signed the MoU with the 1M1B Foundation.
The deal was inked in the presence of Sampath Kumar, Development Commissioner & Principal Secretary, Government of Meghalaya and Pravin Bakshi, Commissioner & Secretary, Information Technology, & Communication (IT&C) Department, and Deepika Venkatesh, Program Manager- Green Skills & Sustainability, 1M1B at the Additional Secretariat in Shillong.
Expressing confidence in the potential of the youth of the state, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said, “It is a pleasure to collaborate with 1M1B in establishing the Green Skills Academy here at Meghalaya which will accelerate the adoption of green skills among our college youth in our state.”
An elated Development Commissioner & Principal Secretary, P Sampath Kumar said that Meghalaya has adopted a science-based life cycle model to cultivate its human capital, fostering the future economic development of the state.
“This collaboration with 1M1B is in perfect alignment with our mutual objective of empowering the young adolescents of the state by equipping them with skills that will prepare them for the future,” he said.
The Green Skills Academy offers a unique blend of theoretical knowledge, projects, workplace experiences, internships and job readiness mentoring creating a dynamic learning environment. The Academy will further empower participants with a range of specialized skills particularly in artificial intelligence, sustainable design, data analysis, and project management.
By embedding real-world challenges into the learning process, the programme will nurture critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration abilities, all of which are crucial for success in green and sustainable career paths. The Green Skills Academy will benefit the youth through direct interactions with industry experts, mentors, and sustainability-focused organizations and provide guidance, mentorship, and potential employment opportunities.
Pravin Bakshi, Commissioner & Secretary, Information Technology, & Communication (IT&C) Department (IT&C) who attended the signing of the agreement said, “It is an innovative and vibrant collaboration that we have embarked upon with 1M1B especially setting up of 1M1B Green Skills Academy leveraging AI which is only the second such initiative in the country .The State Government of Meghalaya and stakeholder Departments of Education and IT & Communications are delighted to take forward this collaboration and partnership .”
The Founder and Chief Mentor of 1M1B Manav Subodh, who signed the MoU on behalf of his academy said, “We believe Green Skills and AI skills are big equalizers and can be leveraged to provide inclusive career opportunities to the youth of Meghalaya.”
He also said that Green Skills Academy would also collate Inputs and recommendations from diverse stakeholders in the State of Meghalaya for United Nations Summit of the Future 2024, with focus on AI, cyber safety, climate action and inclusive technologies.
The Summit of the Future (September 2024) is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to enhance cooperation on critical challenges and address gaps in global governance, reaffirm existing commitments including the Sustainable Development Goals and the United Nations Charter, and move towards a reinvigorated multilateral system that is better positioned to positively impact people’s lives.
History of 1M1B
Founded in 2014, 1M1B is an UN-accredited non-profit with a profound mission: to empower youth leaders, impact a billion lives.
What makes them stand out?
They hold a unique UN consultative status and are guided by core principles like going beyond yourself, universal empowerment, and the potential of grassroots movements.
1M1B engages and enables youth to become future-ready problem solvers creating real-world impact. By undergoing 1M1B programs that are based on a unique 4.3.2.1 activation framework.
Youth acquire critical skill sets, mind-sets, and toolsets to access the jobs of tomorrow. Areas of focus include digital technologies (AI, AR, VR), digital creativity, digital citizenship and 4th industrial revolution skills like problem-solving, flexibility, empathy, dealing with failures and collaboration.
The 1M1B program focuses on nurturing innovation and fostering the next generation of human-centred leaders who use new age tools to address age-old challenges.
The annual 1M1B Activate Impact Summit held at the UN headquarters in New York, shines a spotlight on youth-led projects driving UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Impact of 1M1B
They’ve empowered over 500,000 young individuals, trained 400,000 teachers, and created 6,000 job opportunities for the youth. Their mission for positive change is fortified by strategic partnerships with entities like SCET, University of California Berkeley, IBM, Meta, Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail, State Government of Telangana, India and others.
1M1B exists to activate 1 million youth who will impact 1 billion people, thereby creating a world of balanced prosperity https://activate1m1b.org/
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